Means for attaching the tubes and shells of lanterns



Dec 27, 1932. T R NE 1,892,292

MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE TUBES AND SHELLS OF LANTERNS Fi led March 5, 1931 jjrrcmmr.

Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED STATEE PATENT OFFICE ROBERT P. THRONE, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSiGNOR TO B. E. DIETZ COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MEANS FOR ATTAGHING THE TUBES AND SHELLS OF LANTERNS Application filed March 5, 1931.

This invention relates to improvements in tubular lanterns of that kind which are provided with air tubes that connect the dome or top shell of the lantern with the air chamher at the base portion of the lantern for supplying air to the lantern to support combustion. These air tubes are ordinarily arranged upright at opposite sides of the lantern, and in addition to serving the function of air COIlQllltS, also constitute the side frame members which rigidly connect the top shell and the base portion of the lantern.

Heretofore these air tubes have ordinarily been attached at their ends to the top shell and air chamber wall or shell by inserting the ends of the tubes in holes in the shells and flanging over the end edges of the tubes against the inner faces of the shells, and then soldering the tube end flanges to the shells in order to insure air-tight joints and strong connections between the tubes and the shells. Thus, in addition to the operation of flanging the tubes to the shells, an additional soldering operation is required which increases the cost of production both by reason of the additional labor and the cost of the solder used.

One object of my invention is to attach the air tubes of lanterns to the connected walls or shells in a novel manner, which insures strong, tight joints between the parts and reduces both the labor and cost of construction.

Uther objects of the invention are to con nect the air tubes to the shells by a method which can be quickly and easily performed, and which avoids the necessity for soldering the joints; also to provide an inexpensive but tight, strong and durable joint between the air tube and the top shell of the lantern; and also to improve the construction of tubular lantern frames in the respects hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

F ig.- 1 is a side elevation of the upper portion of a tubular lantern frame embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, front elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a section thereof, on an enlarged scale, on line 33, Fig. 2.

Serial No. 520,327.

Fig. i is an enlarged inside elevation showing the joint between the end of the air tube and the top shell.

Fig. 5 is a detached View of the upper portion of the air tube.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the end of the air tube inserted in the hole in the top shell before the completion of the oint between these parts.

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the completed oint between the air tube and top shell.

Fig. 8 is a sectional detail, enlarged through the joint between the air tube and top shell.

10 represents the dome or top shell of a tubular lantern and 11 the upper portion of one of the air tubes, the upper end portion of which as usual is bent inwardl 1 toward andis secured at its end, to the side of the shell 10. These parts, with the exception of the construction of the joint between the end of the tube and the shell, may be of usual or suitable form and construction.

The air tube shown is of a construction commonly employed, the tube being composed of two sheet metal sections joined together by longitudinal seams at the inner and outer sides of the tube, and the shell, as usual, is preferably provided at its side with a circular boss 12 having a flat outer end in a circular hole 13 in which the end of the tube is secured. At its upper end the tube is provided with a short cylindrical extremity 14 adapted to enter the hole 13 in the shell boss and, adjacent this cylindrical portion, with circumferential bead 15 which forms astop shoulder adapted to bear against the outer face of the boss 12. After the end of the tube is inserted in the hole in the boss 12, the extremity of the tube is flanged or bent outwardly against the inner face of the boss, by means of suitable dies which flatten the bead 5 and press the same and the end flange 16 of the tube respectively against the outer and inner faces of the end of the boss, thereby clamping the edge of the hole between the flange and the bead and securing the end of the tube in the hole.

In addition to thus pressing the flange 16 and bead 15 against the opposite faces of the boss, the dies which perform this operation are formed so that they also produce interfitting or interlocking crimps 17 in the bead 15, flange 16 and interposed circular edge of the boss 13. These crimps or corrugations, of which any suitable number may be employed disposed around the circumference of the tube, extend radially or transversely of, and stilfen the several connected parts of, and greatly strengthen the joint between the tube and the shell. They prevent any turning movement of the tube in the shell hole and provide adequate assurance against the flange 16 being straightened out and permitting the tube to be pulled out of hole 13 by strain on the frame in a direction to separate the tube and shell. The crimps act to prevent the deflection or springing of the flange l6 and head from the close contact with the edge of the boss to which the are pressed by the operation of the securing dies, and thus also serve to insure an air-tight joint between the tube and the shell.

The crimping of the joint in this manner obviates the necessity for the former practice of soldering the flange 16 to the inner face of the shell to insure the necessary strength of the connection and make an air-tight joint between the tube and the shell. Nevertheless, these crimps are produced by the same die operation which closes or compresses the flange 16 and bead 15 against the opposite faces of the boss, and thus the labor and expense of the additional soldering operation, as well as the cost of the solder, are saved.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a tubular lantern, a joint between a tube and a wall having an opening through which an end of said tube extends, said oint comprising an abutment on the tube spaced from one end thereof and abutting one face of the wall at the margin of the opening, the end of the tube being flanged over against the opposite face of said wall surrounding said opening, said wall and end flange having interiitting crilnps formed therein and extending from said opening in a direction crosswise of said opening edge at the crimp.

2. In a tubular lantern, a joint between a tube and a wall having an opening through which an end of said tube extends, said oint comprising a circumferentially extending head on the tube spaced from one end thereof and abutting one face of the wall at the margin of the opening, the end of the tube being flanged over against the opposite face of said wall surrounding said opening, said wall, end flange and bead having interfitting criinps formed therein and, extending from said opening in a direction crosswise of said opening edge at the crimp.

ROBERT P. THRONE. 

